RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – A once fervent commitment to combat political corruption in the state of North Carolina appears to be on the decline, raising concerns about the influence of money in politics. In the early 2000s, campaign finance and lobbying laws were a hot topic, driven by the investigative work of government watchdog Bob Hall. However, recent years have seen a resurgence of questionable practices and a lack of enforcement, leaving the public wondering if corruption is being swept under the rug.
Under the leadership of Democratic state House Speaker Jim Black, campaign finance laws took center stage as Hall’s investigations uncovered corruption. As a result, new legislation was enacted to address the “pay-to-play” politics that had become so widespread. Measures like the “no cup of coffee” rule aimed to eliminate lobbyists wining and dining lawmakers, while other regulations targeted all-expense-paid trips and fundraising events held during legislative sessions. At that time, legislative ethics committees actively addressed allegations against lawmakers.
Unfortunately, over the past decade, the commitment to combating corruption has dwindled. Multiple factors have contributed to this decline, including a tendency for regulated individuals and groups to exploit legal loopholes and an underfunding of oversight bodies like the State Board of Elections. The consequences are evident in the world of campaign finance, where powerful politicians from both parties have faced allegations of misconduct. Despite the efforts of observers like Hall, whose expertise in accessing and analyzing campaign finance reports is unmatched, these allegations often disappear without consequence.
Two recent examples highlight the ongoing challenges. Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson’s 2020 campaign faced allegations of illegal cash donations, contributions from illegal sources, and improper financial transactions, among other violations. Likewise, Senator Phil Berger’s real estate deals and manipulation of landlord-tenant relationships have raised questions about the conversion of campaign contributions into personal wealth.
Similar tactics have also been used by House Speaker Tim Moore, who charged his campaign for the use of his law office. While these instances of rule-bending and self-dealing transcend party lines, discrepancies in campaign finance reporting have also plagued Democratic legislators like Cecil Brockman. The sheer volume of late reports filed by Brockman raises concerns about transparency and accountability.
In a different era, these allegations would have sparked public outrage, ethics investigations, and potentially criminal probes. However, in today’s North Carolina, where a politician facing multiple criminal charges maintains immense popularity within the Republican Party, such questionable acts are often dismissed as inconsequential. This dismissive attitude may be further perpetuated by state investigators conscious of their budgets and those who control them.
Amidst this discouraging landscape, individuals like Hall continue to sound the alarm. Their persistent efforts aim to awaken the public to demand action against corruption and unethical practices in politics. Only time will tell if their impassioned pleas will garner the attention and response they deserve.